We are unclear about what they do and what they are, when some see them as a toy and others think of drones used in wars.

The truth is somewhere in between, with drones being used in a number of ways on a daily basis – and yet they are still underused.

Steve Witchwood-Green has his own drone business. The pilot is based in Ansford near Castle Cary, but covers all of Somerset and beyond with his drones.

Mr Witchwood-Green worked in aviation for the US military, but when he returned to the UK in 2010, he bought a hobby drone, started flying it, and eventually looked at getting a licence to fly them commercially and his business grew from there.

Drone Code

These are the Cicil Aviation Authority rules drone pilots must adhere to

always keep your drone in sight (or have a remote pilot who can see the drone)

stay below 400ft (120m)

Keep 150ft (50m) between the drone and people or properties

Keep a distance of 500ft (150m) to crowds and built up areas

stay well aware from aircrafts, airports and airfields

He said: “It is still difficult because of people’s misconceptions about drones, but the applications are endless; they can be used for archeology, search and rescue, conservation, to film documentaries...

“Whatever you can conceive or imagine, you can do with a drone.”

“People automatically think someone is spying on them when you say ‘drone’. But the drones we are talking about are not toys. You need a licence and training to fly them safely and then they can be used in any way you can think of.”

You may not even be aware of it, but here are some of the ways drones are or could be used in Somerset.

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Drones can be used for missing people (or missing animals with the RSPCA). Mr Witchwood-Green explained that a helicopter may be too intrusive, or can’t get to it, especially if it in use elsewhere. Drones can be a lot quicker.

A video on Twitter posted by Wiltshire Police shows how a 'missing' 11-year-old boy can be spotted with the help of a drone.

Devon and Cornwall Police were the first force to launch a drone unit in the UK.

Chief Superintendent Jim Nye explains: “Drones will aid officers as part of missing person searches, crime scene photography, responding to major road traffic collisions, coastal and woodland searches, combat wildlife crime or even help police and monitor suspects during a firearm or terrorist incident, as it will allow officers to gain vital information, quickly, safely, and allow us to respond effectively at the scene."

The drone department has its own Twitter @PoliceDrones and over the summer they shared a video which shows the moment a high risk missing person was located with a drone near the Exmouth cliffs.

Agriculture

Drones are not being used in Somerset yes, but Steve Witchwood-Green explains it could be used by farmers around the county to spray crops.

He says: "A drone can carry about one third of its weight, so it can be filled with fertiliser to spray fields. It saves a farmers time, but also avoids damaging crops by driving through the field with a tractor,

"A drone can be programmed to fly a certain route, and when it runs out of fertiliser (or battery), it automatically returns to based to be refilled and then picks up where it left off again."